'What is Postmodernism' - Charles Jencks

This is the first book I read over the christmas period to expand my knowledge of Postmodernism in preparation for my essay titled 'Is it possible to describe any aspect of Graphic Design today as post-modern(ist)?'. I found the book quite simple in area's however this my perfect for my initial research. It allowed me to form a basic understanding of postmodernism which enabled me to understand later books and my exhibition visit more thoroughly.


Here are some simple notes I collected from the book which I found useful as links for the essay writing:




- Post-modernism is now a world wide movement in all the arts and disciplines.


- Charles Jencks believes that Post modernism is not necessarily more mature or better than its 'parent' form: Modernism. It is just, however, here to stay. He believes that this is the reason for the increasing number of books we see in today's culture based around Postmodernism compared with the number we see relating to Modernism. 


- Jencks believes we are past accepting or rejecting this new 'ism'. We must, however, take is at face value as it is too omnipresent and important for either approach. He quotes 'Rather we have to ask about its emergent possibilities, as 'What it is?', and then decide selectively to support and criticise aspects of the movement'.


- Jencks goes on to reaffirm that 'the idea of plurality is essential to Post-modernism; the necessity of crossing boundaries and mixing genres is also a norm of this era'.


- Modernism is the period between 1840 and 1930 according to Jencks. This is the period of cultural movement relating directly to modernity. The social conditions of living in an urban, fast-changing, progressivist world governed by instrumental reason. This in turn stems from the modernisation which is seen as the continual economic growth dependant on industrialisation and progressive technology.


- For Charles Jencks, the 'post-modern' is the continuation of modernity and its transcendence.


- It is important at this stage to stress the delicate relationship between Postmodernism and Modernism. Postmodernism is not Anti-modernism, its is neither the rejection of its parent; Modernism nor is it traditionalism. In Jencks opinion it does not reject the enlightenment project, which the philosophers Jurgen Habermas and Jean-Francois Lyotard contend. 


- The enlightenment project is the social emancipation of humanity, increasing freedom and universal rights.


- However, in contrast, Jean-Francois Lyotard states in his book 'The postmodern condition' 1979 that postmodernism results in crisis in confidence, questioning; where is the world going? 


- According to Wolfgang Welsch the first inconsequential use of the term was as early as 1870, by the British artists John Watkins Chapman.


- 'John Barth sees the postmodern as a search for a wider audience, yet one that does not deny the real insights of modernity'.


- Like post-modern architecture, the art movement also began c1960 with a succession of departures from Modernism: notable, Pop Art, Hyperrealism, Photo Realism, New Image Painting, Neo-expressionism and so on and so forth. These movements have crossed over national boundaries in response to the influence of the international media, emphasised as a key aspect of the post-industrial society.


- In Jencks' opinion, Postmodernism is a new world view, or an outgrowth of the post-industral society as well as a shift in philosophy, the arts and architecture.